Premier League Preview: xG, xT timeline and more from Everton vs Watford | OneFootball

Icon: EPL Analysis

EPL Analysis

·23 October 2021

Premier League Preview: xG, xT timeline and more from Everton vs Watford

Article image:Premier League Preview: xG, xT timeline and more from Everton vs Watford

Everton will take on Watford at Goodison Park in the Premier League on Saturday. Both teams were defeated last time around in the Premier League and will be looking to bounce back. Can Everton hold off against a Watford at home?

Everton’s form has seen a decline recently. Despite starting the season brightly, they sit eighth in the league with four wins, two draws and two losses. They have just one victory in their last five matches in all competitions. Rafa Benitez’s side will be hoping to bounce back with a victory over a struggling Watford on Saturday. Everton have been plagued by injuries recently and their form has declined as a result. Their impressive home record was tainted with West Ham securing a narrow 1-0 victory at Goodison Park. Ogbonna scored in the 74th minute to ensure West Ham take all three points, leaving Everton with just one victory in the previous four matches. They have a decent record against Watford in the Premier League, with Everton securing victories in five out of ten matches between the two sides. Calvert-Lewin is set to remain sidelined for another few weeks. Doucoure, Gomes and Delph will also remain unavailable for the match against Watford. Everton fans will be delighted that Richarlison is closer to his return, however, he remains out for this Saturday’s fixture. Anthony Gordon might be in contention for the starting eleven.


OneFootball Videos


Article image:Premier League Preview: xG, xT timeline and more from Everton vs Watford

Everton did not shy away from taking shots in their recent game against West Ham as indicated by their shot map. Although they were inaccurate with their shots as they failed to convert any of them. Everton have been struggling in front of the goal as evident by the scorelines in their recent two games.

Article image:Premier League Preview: xG, xT timeline and more from Everton vs Watford

Everton’s struggles in finding the back of the net in their recent games are further highlighted by their xG and xG per 90. They rank in the bottom half of the league in terms of xG and xG per 90.

Watford have been struggling this season. They are placed sixteenth in the Premier League with two wins, one draw and five losses from their eight fixtures. The Hornets’ fans were hopeful that they would see a reaction from their team after Claudio Ranieri took charge as the manager. However, they were humbled 5-0 at home against Liverpool. Watford did not have an answer to Jurgen Klopp’s side. Their defeat will surely serve as a grim reminder that Ranieri will have his work cut out if his side are to bounce back against another Merseyside team, Everton. So far, their only highlight of the season in the away matches has been a win at Norwich City as they have been defeated in their other three away fixtures with no goals to show for. The Hornets remain winless in their previous three matches against Everton. Kabasele, Etebo and Sierralta are set to miss out on Saturday through injuries although Joshua King could make his return.

Article image:Premier League Preview: xG, xT timeline and more from Everton vs Watford

Watford suffered complete domination in their previous game in the Premier League at the hands of Liverpool. Both the xT and xG timelines indicate that Watford were unable to threaten Liverpool considerably during the entirety of the game.

Article image:Premier League Preview: xG, xT timeline and more from Everton vs Watford

The Hornets poor form is further highlighted by their shots on target and shots on target per 90. They rank near the bottom in terms of both.

Predicted XI

Everton (4-4-2) – Pickford; Coleman, Keane, Mina, Digne; Townsend, Doucoure, Davies, Gordon; Gray, Rondon.

Watford (4-2-3-1) – Foster; Ngakia, Troost-Ekong, Cathcart, Rose; Kucka, Sissoko; Sarr, Cleverley, Dennis; Hernandez.

Prediction

Despite their recent decline in the form, Everton should have enough to claim all three points against Watford.

View publisher imprint